CLEAN, DRAIN & DRY: Boaters are critical in the fight to 
protect Texas lakes from destructive invasive species… 
details ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Texans can help to protect their lakes this summer by 
properly cleaning, draining and drying boats and 
equipment every time they leave the water.

The threats to Texas’ aquatic ecosystems are many. In 
East Texas, the primary threat is giant salvinia – a highly 
invasive, free-floating aquatic fern that can make fishing, 
boating, swimming and other water recreation nearly 
impossible.

Another threat, Zebra mussels, have spread from North 
Texas to other lakes in East and Central Texas. These 
mussels can ruin shorelines with sharp shells, impact 
recreation, hurt native aquatic life, damage boats and clog 
water intakes.

If boaters take a few minutes to properly clean, drain and 
dry everything that touches the water before they leave, 
they become part of the solution. These simple steps can 
make a huge difference in our efforts to protect and 
preserve Texas lakes for future generations.

If you need incentive: the transport of aquatic invasive 
species can result in legal trouble for boaters, and it is 
punishable by a fine of up to $500 per violation.

Learn more about giant salvinia, zebra mussels and other 
invasive species in Texas at Texas Invasives.org.

The Sport Fish restoration Program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti. 





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